Transitioning From Foster Care to Adulthood
If you’ve been in the foster care system, you’ve already faced challenges most people simply don’t have to deal with. You’ve gotten through some tough times, and maybe sometimes felt like there was no one you could count on. At the same time, you’ve had to follow many rules, requirements and guidelines. You’ve met with social workers, specialists and other adults who seem to make all the decisions.
We understand that aging out of foster care can be both exciting and scary. The Aftercare program is a way to help you transition from foster care to adulthood and along your path toward total self-sufficiency. By choosing to participate in the Aftercare program when you age out of foster care, you get the independence you crave along with a safety net: access to a supportive adult, financial assistance, and connections to countless helpful resources.
What is the Aftercare Services Program?
The Aftercare program supports youth who have aged out of foster care or another out-of-home placement. The Iowa Aftercare Services Network (IASN) . The lead agency is YSS of Ames, but the Network includes 8 additional agencies across the state so services are nearby where ever you live.
The main goal of the Aftercare program is to empower and equip young adults for successful, self-sufficient living after aging out of foster care. Aftercare provides essential support, encouragement and guidance as young people navigate their independence and new adult responsibilities.
In order to ease the transition from foster care to adulthood, Aftercare connects young adults with key resources and help with:
- Safe Housing
- Financial Literacy and Budgeting
- Higher Education and Job Training
- Employment
- Healthcare and Medical Resources
- Relationships and Communication
- Life Skills
Some Aftercare participants also qualify for a monthly financial assistance to help cover basic needs like groceries, rent, gas, tuition and other bills.
Unlike the structure of the foster care system, Aftercare is 100% voluntary. Each participant has choices and can customize their Aftercare experience to focus on the resources that are most beneficial for their unique life goals.
Pre-Aftercare: Deciding What to Do After Foster Care
Pre-Aftercare allows young adults in out-of-home placement to begin exploring Aftercare services as early as age 17, and is a good way to begin planning for the transition to adulthood.
During Pre-Aftercare, youth can meet with an Aftercare Self-Sufficiency Advocate, who can explain Aftercare services and help them begin thinking about what they will do when they age out. This can include discussions about housing, college enrollment, job training and more. Pre-Aftercare is a great step toward easing the transition from foster care to whatever comes next.
How to Get Started: After Foster Care Programs
If you’re interested in the Aftercare program, talk to your case manager. They can connect you with an Aftercare Self-Sufficiency Advocate and help you get started with enrollment paperwork. Enrollment is simple, so don’t let that deter you from signing up. The Aftercare benefits greatly outweigh the time it takes to get started.
I learned about the Aftercare program from my therapist at YSS. She explained the program, and I said, “Sign me up — that sounds great!” I didn’t want to be on my own right away when I got out of the system because I didn’t really know what I was doing. It’s great to have that extra support. If you don’t want to go to your parents or family friends or family members for something, your Aftercare Advocate can help you navigate things.
Mackenzie
Aftercare participant
Aftercare Services: What Happens When You Age Out of Foster Care?
Trying to figure out what happens when you age out of foster care can feel overwhelming. Aftercare is designed to alleviate your fears, provide guidance and offer ongoing support to youth who age out, helping them develop the life skills needed for success.
Aftercare is a voluntary program for young adults ages 18-23. When you enroll in the Aftercare program, you’re paired with a Self-Sufficiency Advocate (SSA). You’ll meet with your Advocate at least twice each month, but you’ll be able to contact them as often as you want. They’re available to help you set goals and build life skills, answer your questions, offer advice and follow up on your progress.
Ultimately, Aftercare is designed to provide you with resources and support as you navigate young adulthood. We want Aftercare to be useful, not burdensome. If you have questions about eligibility or other benefits, check out our Aftercare FAQ page.
We have mindful conversations about things like communication, finances, transportation — just being aware of responsibilities and making time to take care of things on their own.
Hannah
Self-Sufficiency Advocate
Extended Aftercare Services: Transition from Foster Care to Adulthood
Foster youth face unique barriers when turning 18, and it’s helpful to have support during this transition from foster care to adulthood. Connecting with a supportive adult provides stability, encouragement and guidance about finances, relationships, educational opportunities, employment, life skills and other adult responsibilities.
As of January 2020, Extended Aftercare services are available for former Aftercare participants who are now ages 21 and 22. Extended Aftercare will allow Aftercare participants to continue working with their Self-Sufficiency Advocate until age 23. Requirements and benefits are similar to the core Aftercare program, with a few exceptions:
Aftercare Eligibility
Former foster youth are only eligible for Extended Aftercare if they were enrolled in Aftercare before the age of 21.
Limited Financial Support
Extended Aftercare participants are eligible for limited financial assistance based on need. It may be used for living expenses such as rent, groceries, insurance payments and other necessities.
Increased Preparation for Adulthood
The more time you spend with your Self-Sufficiency Advocate, the more you’ll learn about life skills and adult responsibility. Our goal is to encourage complete independence once you’re finished with the Aftercare program, so your Advocate will work with you to help you become self-supporting.
Having Aftercare another two years just helps me transition a little bit better — learn how to budget better and figure out my working situation. It also means that I still have support from my Advocate, Katelynn — to talk things out, get guidance and continue to have someone who can lead me in the right direction and help me stay focused.
Madysen
Aftercare participant
Why Choose Aftercare Services When You’re Aging Out of Foster Care Programs
We help support your specific needs and life goals. One of the great things about Aftercare is that you can customize your experience and receive specialized services based on your unique situation. Read on to learn more about how we support Aftercare participants in all areas:
Aftercare Helps You Find Safe Housing
According to a recent study, more than one-fifth of former foster youth experience homelessness for at least one day within a year of aging out of the foster care system. When you get connected with the Aftercare program, we can help you find a safe, affordable place to live, and we can assist with rental applications and other paperwork associated with finding housing.
Understanding Financial Literacy and Budgeting After Foster Care
Financial literacy is a big part of the Aftercare program. It’s important to manage your money responsibly and create a budget in order to make sure you’re able to work toward your goals and stay on the right track. Your Advocate can help answer questions you have about finances.
Some Aftercare participants are eligible for monthly financial help – which we call a stipend. This Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) stipend may be used to help you pay for things like rent, insurance, gas, groceries and other living expenses. This stipend isn’t a hand-out — it is designed to support your income while you’re working a part-time or full-time job or enrolled at a college or job training program. We have more information about the PAL stipend on our FAQ page.
The Aftercare program can help you address other financial concerns and topics such as paying off debt, spending responsibly, saving money, opening a bank account, paying bills and more.
Pursue Your Goals: Higher Education and Job Training
Your Self-Sufficiency Advocate can help you figure out a plan for your education. This can include help with things like:
- Completing Your GED
- Career Exploration
- College or Trade School Applications
- Coordinating Internships and Job Shadowing
- Financial Aid Applications
Aftercare participants may be able to use an Education And Training Voucher (ETV) to help pay for college or other training. ETV grants are available specifically for former foster youth, and they help offset costs that might otherwise prevent you from being able to afford an education.
Plan Your Career Path and Find Employment
When you participate in Aftercare, your Advocate can connect you with job-related resources and guidance for things like:
- How to Find a Job
- Filling Out Job Applications
- Creating a Resume and Cover Letter
- Interview Tips and Mock Interviews
- What to Wear to an Interview
- Professional Communication Tips
Whether you’re looking for a job that can become a career or a part-time job to help you support yourself while you pursue your education or other goals, we will support you and help set you up for success.
Navigate Healthcare and Find Medical Resources with Aftercare
Navigating healthcare can be complicated and confusing. Your Advocate will make sure you have everything you need to feel secure about your healthcare needs. This can include things like:
- Getting Health Insurance
- Finding Doctors and Specialists
- Making a Doctor’s Appointment
- Getting Prescription Medication
- Accessing Mental Health Resources
- Meeting with a Therapist or Counselor
- How to be Your Own Advocate in Medical Settings
Many former foster youth are eligible for Medicaid health insurance, and the state of Iowa has new eligibility information for a health insurance program called Extended Medicaid For Young Adults (E-MIYA). When you’re enrolled in Aftercare, we’ll help you explore your healthcare options and make sure you have enough coverage.
Aftercare Helps You Cultivate Healthy Relationships and Communication Skills
Relationships with positive adults are a powerful protective factor against negative outcomes and can provide critical support to former foster youth as they transition to adulthood. Your relationship with your Advocate is one example of a positive, supportive relationship. You can talk with your Advocate about finding community groups, learning healthy communication skills and building positive friendships and relationships.
Those who are interested in meeting other former foster youth can connect with Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP), Iowa’s state foster care youth council. Your Advocate can help you find a local AMP group near you or explore other local groups and clubs relating to your interests and hobbies.
Life Skills and General Support
Aftercare participants consistently tell us that the most valuable resource in the Aftercare program is simply access to a supportive adult. Not only can your Advocate help with all the above areas, but they’re here to offer support and help you figure things out. If you don’t have someone else to turn to with concerns or struggles, you can turn to your Advocate.
At 18, I was struggling with grasping the real world all by myself, and the mentorship has really helped a lot. It hasn’t just been a mentor/mentee relationship; it has become a friendship. This is one of the most important resources that Aftercare provides — the mentorship and friendship.
Grace
Aftercare participant
Get Started with After Foster Care Programs
When you’re wondering what to do after foster care, check out Aftercare services. Our goal is to provide support, not to tell you what to do. We are here to offer encouragement, guidance and help connecting to key resources for youth as they transition from foster care to adulthood. If you’re interested in learning more about the Aftercare program, reach out to our team.
The extension of Aftercare is so crucial. I’m turning 21 next year and having support for those extra years is really going to be helpful.